Surf's Up! Former Malibu Lifeguard Chief Gets Painted.

Sometimes as a portrait painter who paints from life very regularly, you know you just got lucky. A great man walks in your studio, with a great face, life story and attitude. That would be retired Malibu lifeguard chief Randy DeGregori who has helped save many lives from the ocean.

While we chatted away during Randy's life sitting, my brush seemed to do the work on its' own.

It helps me to talk while I paint from life. My subconscious seems to take over. I learned this from my mentor Mr. Everett Raymond Kinstler, N.A. www.everettraymondkinster.com

Things often aren't perfect in single life sittings of under two hours. You get what you get. But if there is that undeniable 'energy' on the canvas between sitter and artist, recording a moment in time,  then I am happy. Keep the camera away for touch ups.

Randy was painted for my second public portrait project "The Face of Malibu" appearing in The Malibu Times monthly. Sitter 25 has just been painted. It follows on from "The Face of Ventura". Read Randy's life story at the link below.

Randy DeGregori
Former Lifeguard Chief, Malibu
Painted By Johanna Spinks
Face of Malibu Portrait Series

http://SeeTheMalibuTimeshere

A Bishop Gets Painted.

Shipping out today from my studio. I am honored to have painted Bishop William Alexander Guerry for a Southern Church. Bishop Guerry was a reformer and martyr. His life was cut way too short when he was killed for his beliefs about including minorities in the church.

I am indebted to my portrait hero Phillip De Laszlo once again. I look at his work so much these days. Check out this old Master.
https://www.delaszloarchivetrust.com

Bishop William Alexander Guerry
By Johanna Spinks

Palette Knife Portraits From Life

Lynette is a sitter I love to paint. She came to my studio this week and I decided to paint her with a palette knife rather than brush, although I did use a brush for the block-in.

I like a good block-in. It makes me feel like I am off to a good start. Drawing is everything to me. Applying paint with a knife is a much slower process I find  than with the brush. It has been an exciting journey exploring all of this in my portrait art.

I like the subtle color harmonies I got here. Come back to see it done.

Gratitudes
Johanna

Palette Knife
Life Portrait
"Lynette"
12 x 16

There will be another sitting to finish this.

Capture the Light Effect

A quickie portrait done of a beautiful sitter at my studio this week. I am about an hour in here capturing the light effect with big brushes. I kinda like what I got and,  more importantly, so did the sitter.

Beautiful times in the studio

My Largest Palette Knife Portrait So Far

This one took me a while, my latest palette knife portrait and the largest one I have done so far at 24 x 36". All those peonies! The sitter is my daughter Jessica

"The Missoni Scarf"
By Johanna Spinks

Face of Malibu Gets a Great Face

Good Times....The 22nd sitter for my Face of Malibu portrait project Walt Keller

Honored to have painted the first ever Mayor of Malibu Walt Keller for my "Face of Malibu" portrait series appearing each month in The Malibu Times. Single life sitting.

People are just endless fascinating,  especially to paint, as was this man. Read more about Walt Keller's life story here:

http://www.malibutimes.com/malibu_life/article_df0ef268-28ad-11e4-a841-001a4bcf887a.html

This is my second portrait series. The first was "The Face of Ventura By Johanna Spinks". All 58 of those portraits are now in the permanent collection of the Museum of Ventura County.

Do You Like Sticky Toffee Pudding?

Face it! We all have those treasured memories of sticky toffee pudding and our grandma cooking it early on a Sunday morning by a bristling coal fire, right?

A nice flowery apron around her ample hips and a bowl for us to lick shortly afterwards. Boy, did that taste good.

Yes? Well, you will love this show then. I am honored to have five pieces in it including the one shown.

See you there. And bring some sticky toffee pudding or banana cream pie at the very least.

Gratitudes,
Johanna

"Every Day Thanksgiving"
20" x 32"
By Johanna Spinks

Show invite...See you there!